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Birthday Card

1962 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Jennifer Leaver has kept every single birthday card she ever received and she has given the Museum the first eighteen years worth. Jennifer was born in the mid 1950s and the collection provides a snapshot of the changing designs of cards during this period of change and development in the history of childhood. It is fascinating to observe different trends dependent on the age Jennifer was in each particular year. The cards demonstrate the interests of a girl growing up at this time, from cute and cuddly animals to parties and music.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
colour printed card
Brief description
Colour printed birthday card with an illustration of brown and white puppies driving in a motor car, printed in England, 1962. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her sixth birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card. Image on the front depicts five puppied driving a pink card. There are blue flowers surrounding the car and the flowers and car are decorated with silver glitter. There is another image of the back of the car inside the card from which the puppies are waving. Printed and hand written greetings are also inside the card. One sheet of paper folded in four.
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.6cm
  • Closed width: 12.5cm
  • Open width: 25.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'BIRTHDAY / GREETINGS' (printed on front of card)
  • 'May all that's best / and happiest / Be with you on this day, / And all the year may / Birthday cheer / keep travelling your way' (printed inside card)
  • 'many happy returns / to Jennifer / Sorry we are late But Mummy / gets muddled up between your / birthday and my cousin in Wales' (hand written inside card)
Credit line
Given by Jennifer Leaver
Object history
One of 269 cards donated by Jennifer Leaver (née Davies) that have been given to her on her birthdays from 1-18 from family and friends.
Subject depicted
Summary
Jennifer Leaver has kept every single birthday card she ever received and she has given the Museum the first eighteen years worth. Jennifer was born in the mid 1950s and the collection provides a snapshot of the changing designs of cards during this period of change and development in the history of childhood. It is fascinating to observe different trends dependent on the age Jennifer was in each particular year. The cards demonstrate the interests of a girl growing up at this time, from cute and cuddly animals to parties and music.
Collection
Accession number
B.419-2010

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Record createdJune 23, 2011
Record URL
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